The Lu Shan Sect is renowned for its ghost-controlling techniques.
Thus, a duel of ghost control is the most fitting.
Although Lu Xin is twenty years older than Lin Ziying, possessing considerable experience and knowledge, her actual strength is unknown. However, Lin Ziying is by no means weak.
She is Lu Jingsheng's final disciple. After her soul recovered, its power became immense. Coupled with the augmentation of the bone chain soul-calling bell, her ghost-controlling cultivation is unfathomable. Even Yan Shouyi is unaware of how far her strength has grown.
"Alright, a duel of ghost control it is!"
Lu Xin smiled enchantingly. Her inherent charm captivated the middle-aged and elderly men among the guests, igniting wicked thoughts.
Ling Xiaoxiao glanced around and said, "But there are no ghosts here."
Without ghosts, how could they compete in ghost control?
Lu Xin flicked her horsetail whisk, her wide sleeves sliding down to reveal the soul-calling bell on her wrist.
Her soul-calling bell was not black, but a deep brown, suggesting it was no ordinary artifact.
Jingle, jingle!
Lu Xin lightly shook the soul-calling bell, and a mass of blood-red ghostly energy slowly drifted out from it.
The blood-red ghostly energy circled the courtyard of the Lu Shan Sect in an eerie fashion, finally coalescing into a human form before everyone.
As everyone clearly saw the true appearance of this humanoid figure, they all gasped.
It was a vengeful spirit in red. She knelt on the ground, her feet bound by chains, her hands tied behind her back. A large hole gaped in her chest, through which her missing heart was clearly visible.
Her hair covered her face, obscuring her features, but a half-torn facial skin was visible, along with teeth faintly exposed.
The vengeful spirit in red lowered her head, and a piercing wail echoed in everyone's ears. Even in broad daylight, a chill ran down their spines.
Shortly after its appearance, frost formed on the ground, and the distant pond even began to freeze over!
"To possess such power in broad daylight, this is no mere vengeful spirit in red. This is a ghost king, a very powerful ghost king..." Han San said with a grave expression.
Truthfully, even he, a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius from Maoshan, would not have had absolute confidence in defeating this female ghost king.
Others also perceived the strength of the vengeful spirit in red, their eyes showing concern.
Only Lin Ziying remained unfazed, her gaze fixed on the vengeful spirit in red. Finally, she looked up and asked Lu Xin, "What is the meaning of this?"
Lu Xin smiled and replied, "This is the challenge I propose!"
"We each send out a controlled ghost, and then the opponent challenges its will. Whoever successfully poaches the other's ghost wins!"
So, the vengeful spirit in red before them was the ghost Lu Xin had sent out.
According to Lu Xin's rules, Lin Ziying had to control this vengeful spirit in red and make it her own to pass.
Correspondingly, Lin Ziying would also have to send out a ghost to accept Lu Xin's challenge.
Yan Shouyi frowned and asked, "What if both sides succeed in controlling the ghost?"
"Then it depends on who takes less time," Lu Xin added by way of explanation.
Yan Shouyi had no further questions. He looked at Lin Ziying.
Lin Ziying's brow furrowed, and she fell silent for a moment.
Unexpectedly, she shook her head and refused, "I refuse."
"Oh?" Lu Xin raised an eyebrow. "Are you scared?"
"I'm not scared, I just don't want my friends to be harmed," Lin Ziying explained.
She currently had three ghosts: the female ghost king Taohua Ying, the maid Lian He, and the warrior Hei Chuan Lu.
According to Lu Xin's method of competition, no matter which one Lin Ziying sent out, they would be subjected to Lu Xin's torturous methods.
If they were harmed because of this, how could Lin Ziying bear it?
Upon hearing this, Lu Xin burst into laughter, her tone filled with disbelief, "What? Friends? You don't actually consider those dead people as friends, do you?"
"Aren't they?" Lin Ziying retorted, a hint of anger in her voice.
"They are merely dead things, tools for us witches of the Lu Shan Sect. Why should I care about the feelings of a dead person?" Lu Xin said disdainfully.
Lin Ziying's face turned angry, "Let's change the method of competition. I don't accept this one!"
"You said it yourself, you decide the content of the competition, and I decide the method. If you refuse, it can be considered a forfeit," Lu Xin taunted.
After all, she was twenty years older than Lin Ziying, and her words were full of traps, making it impossible to guard against.
"You!..."
Lin Ziying gritted her teeth. She knew Lu Xin was setting a trap for her, but she couldn't bear to put her subordinates at risk.
At this moment, the bone chain soul-calling bell trembled uncontrollably, and then three souls rushed out, landing before Lin Ziying.
Taohua Ying bowed gracefully, Lian He lowered her head and fiddled with the hem of her clothes, and Hei Chuan Lu bowed ninety degrees.
The three spoke in unison, "Miss (Princess, Master), please let me go!"
Within the bone chain soul-calling bell, all three had sensed Lin Ziying's inner turmoil. Moreover, Lin Ziying had not restricted them, so they were all aware of what was happening outside.
Lian He said, "My cultivation was the highest in my life, and I am the one most deserving to die for the princess. Let me go!"
Taohua Ying frowned deeply, "My strength is the strongest now. Even if I can't defeat that old hag, I can at least last longer. Let me go. Hei Chuan Lu isn't even a ghost king and won't be able to withstand her for long against that old hag. Miss, you have no choice but to choose me!!"
"Bushido spirit! I will not allow myself to stand behind a woman!" Hei Chuan Lu expressed his meaning in broken Chinese.
The relationship between the three and Lin Ziying was very close. From their words, one could even discern their willingness to sacrifice themselves for Lin Ziying at any moment.
One must know that Lu Xin's strength was not weak; the vengeful spirit in red she released was by no means inferior to Taohua Ying in strength.
Any of Lin Ziying's ghosts facing Lu Xin had a high probability of being forcibly taken by Lu Xin's ghost-controlling techniques.
Therefore, all three had appeared with the intention of sacrificing themselves!
This scene, viewed by Lu Xin, seemed childish and laughable. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, revealing a contemptuous smile.
Yan Shouyi, standing by, was anxious, thinking, "I should have lent Zhu Shanzao to that brat. That guy is lazy and gluttonous with thick skin, he could definitely withstand Lu Xin's attacks!"
Zhu Shanzao's voice echoed in Yan Shouyi's mind, "What you say makes so much sense, I am speechless..."
Originally, Zhu Shanzao wanted to point out Yan Shouyi's disloyalty and betrayal, but upon closer thought, what Yan Shouyi said seemed correct.
"Have you decided?" Lu Xin deliberately urged, wanting to put psychological pressure on Lin Ziying.
Lian He became anxious, "Princess, choose me!"
Taohua Ying directly pushed Lian He aside, "You only have a remnant soul left, do you want to be completely annihilated? Hei Chuan Lu isn't even a ghost king and can't last long against that old hag. Miss, you really have no choice but me!!"